During the 2nd WW the ship was adopted by Beckenham, Kent. As the sister of Lt Cmdr P Vian (Later Admiral) – Marian Vian had a school in Beckenham named after her. Reg Morrison passed the 11 plus whilst attending in 1942. A plaque marking the adoption was put up in the town hall. This building was demolished in 1991 to make way for a supermarket. The area is now under the London Borough of Bromley.

HMS Cossack F03

Ships Company

Start typing to discover family names.

Rank: CPO

Remarks: CPO January 1939 – October 1939

Pay Book Number: P/SSX 31275
Rank: Boy. Able Seaman
Relation: Son of George R. and Florence V. Shaw of Old Basford, Notts

Remarks: Boy. Able Seaman P/SSX 31275. (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) Age 19 (single) Son of George R. and Florence V. Shaw of Old Basford, Notts

Rank: Captain. VC

Remarks: Captain. VC (Succeeded DePass then Vian)
29 December 1939 – 17 January 1940 and 19 March 1940 – 4 May 1940. VC awarded as Captain of HMS ONSLOW
15 April 1921 Lt
15 April 1929 Lt Cdr
31 December 1935 Cdr
30 June 1942 Captain
7 July 1951 Rear admiral
Retired 4 March 1954
Decorations – 28 June 1940 DSO
12 January 1943 VC
1 June 1953 CB

Documents:

Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. January 1939 to March 1940?

Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. January 1939 to March 1940?

Rank: Temporary Paymaster Lt.

Remarks: Temporary paymaster Lt. Appointed to Cossack 8 March 1941

Pay Book Number: P/JX 174137
Rank: Able Seaman
Relation: His wife Vera passed away nine months previously.

Remarks: Able Seaman. P/JX 174137. Joined RN 19 December 1939. Joined LO3 March/April 1940. In 6 mess and stationed on X and Y guns (At BISMARCK and Narvik action)
(Survivor discharged to HMS Victory) Left the RN 6 January 1946 to become a builder. Died 31 January 2013 at Bridport Dorset aged 93. His wife Vera passed away nine months previously.

Rank: Schoolmaster

Remarks: Schoolmaster. Appointed to Cossack 11 June 1940 and 5 April 1941. Accommodated in SIKH

Pay Book Number: P/JX 177274
Rank: Boy Seaman. Boy 1st Class
Relation: Son of Alfred and Annie Simmons of Baldock, Herts

Remarks: Boy Seaman. Boy 1st Class P/JX 177274. (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) Age 17 (single) Son of Alfred and Annie Simmons of Baldock, Herts

Rank: Stoker

Remarks: Stoker. January 1939 to March 1939?

Hidden Gems

The HMS Cossack 1938-1941 was accepted on 10 June 1938 and dented, whilst coming alongside the jetty in Portsmouth on 12 June 1938.

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1806-1816

This is the account of the first vessel named HMS Cossack, a title that would be passed on to five later ships and commemorated by the Royal Navy in the Cossack Building at HMS Raleigh.

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1854-1875

The second Cossack was originally ordered by Russia for the Black Sea Fleet in December 1852 at a cost of 290,000 silver roubles. However, when relations between Britain and Russia deteriorated, Russia sold the vessels to the Hamburg trading firm Henry Mersk & Co.

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1886-1905

This account covers the third vessel named HMS Cossack. Launched on 3 June 1886 and in service until 1905, she spent the majority of her career in the Far East, calling at India, Aden, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and other ports.

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1907-1919

The fourth HMS Cossack received the first Battle Honour for participating in operations along the Belgian coast from 17 October to 8 November 1914. This section contains copies of the original construction contract and detailed plans showing her launch, deck arrangements, and machinery.

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1938-1941

Credited with battle honours including Baltic 1855, Witu 1890, Dover Patrol 1914–1919, Narvik 1940, Norway 1940, Atlantic 1940–1941, the Bismarck Action 1941, and the Malta Convoys 1941, the HMS Cossack in service from 1938 to 1941 was a formidable presence.

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1944-1960

During Warship Week in February 1942, the town of Esher raised £1,192,211, contributing to the construction of the warship HMS Cossack. The funds were collected by the public depositing money into a rubber-type float in a pool. Remarkably, the surplus was enough to fund a submarine as well. The story continues.

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